Top gymnasts at DCU for American Cup

Friday

Mar 1, 2013 at 6:00 AMMar 1, 2013 at 9:52 PM

No one outside of her family and friends in Needham or gymnastics' tightest circles knew too much about Aly Raisman when she competed in the 2010 American Cup at the DCU Center. Raisman, of course, went on to become one of the heroines of last year's Summer Olympics in London, helping the U.S. team to the gold medal.

By Jennifer Toland TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

No one outside of her family and friends in Needham or gymnastics' tightest circles knew too much about Aly Raisman when she competed in the 2010 American Cup at the DCU Center.

Raisman, of course, went on to become one of the heroines of last year's Summer Olympics in London, helping the U.S. team to the gold medal and becoming the first American woman to win gold in the floor exercise with her electrifying performance.

Young Americans Katelyn Ohashi and Simone Biles, who will compete in the American Cup Saturday at the DCU Center, may not be familiar to the casual fan — yet — but they are hoping this event is a springboard for their careers like it has been for so many champions of the past. In addition to Raisman, Olympic medalists Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin, Shannon Miller and Mary Lou Retton also competed in this prestigious international invitational.

“It's so amazing to be here, knowing so many big people have come off from this meet,” Ohashi said after Thursday's early-afternoon workout. “I'm so excited to be here.”

It is the first senior-level competition for Ohashi and Biles, who will both turn 16 within the next couple of months, and the international debut for Biles. They were late replacements for Elizabeth Price and Kyla Ross, who had to withdraw because of injuries. Ross, a member of gold-medal winning Olympic team, did make the trip to support her teammates and is scheduled to perform a balance beam exhibition Saturday.

Ohashi and Biles found out Tuesday they'd be competing here.

“I was ready for it,” Ohashi said. “I feel prepared for this meet and I'm excited to be a senior.”

Ohashi, who is originally from Newcastle, Wash., trains in Plano, Texas, under Valeri Liukin, a 1988 Olympic champion for the Soviet Union and Nastia's father. He has said “the sky's the limit” for Ohashi and that seems to be the general consensus about the personable 4-foot-9, 80-pounder.

A three-time U.S. junior national team member, Ohashi was the 2011 U.S. junior national champion in the all-around, balance beam, uneven bars and floor exercise. She repeated as champion in the uneven bars last year.

Ohashi was also on the gold medal team at the 2011 and 2012 City of Jesolo Trophy competitions and won three individual medals (uneven bars, balance beam in 2012, floor exercise in 2011).

Ohashi describes her style as “a little bit of power and a little bit of grace mixed together,” much different than her close friend Biles. Ohashi calls her “a powerhouse.”

Indeed, Biles is 4-foot-8 and 95 pounds of pure and defined muscle.

Her specialty is the vault, but she powered her way through a vigorous practice on the uneven bars Thursday as well.

“I've always really liked vault,” said the equally engaging Biles, “and then I just grew and became actually good at it and everyone noticed and I guess I just got it.”

Biles, who is originally from Columbus, Ohio, and trains in Spring, Texas, was the 2012 U.S. junior national champion in the vault and finished third in the all around.

This weekend's meet is the first major international competition for both gymnasts.

“It's exciting and fun to get the experience,” Biles said. “I feel like there are higher expectations and it's just really fun.” Biles obviously watched last year's Summer Olympics on TV with much interest and enthusiasm — Raisman's floor routine was her favorite. She is hoping to perform well here, make the world team later this year and, like Ohashi, start seriously thinking about the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“Both of them are definitely our future hopes,” U.S. national team coordinator Martha Karolyi said. “They are very talented kids. They are very different from each other — talented in different ways. This is the first big international competition for them. It's a jump-start toward the training because I think both of them will definitely be important in the next Olympic Games.”

Also competing in the women's field are Vanessa Ferrari of Italy, Gabrielle Jupp of Great Britain, Maegan Chant and Victoria Moors of Canada, Elisabeth Seitz of Germany and Asuka Teramoto of Japan.

Contact Jennifer Toland at jtoland@telegram.com.

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